When the time comes to hire a new Sales Manager, many companies face a common dilemma: Should you promote your top-performing salesperson, or look for fresh talent from outside the organization? It's tempting to elevate your MVP into a management position, assuming their success on the sales floor will naturally translate into leadership. But before you make that call, let's pause and ask: Does the skill set of a top salesperson truly align with what's needed to be a successful Sales Manager? The answer isn't always as clear-cut as it seems.

Does this sound familiar? You're the CEO of a thriving company, yet your talent pipeline is drier than a Zoom meeting without Wi-Fi. You're trying to land top-tier executives, but they keep slipping through your fingers. Why? Because, like it or not, your employer brand is doing the talking—and it might be saying all the wrong things.

As we dive headfirst into 2025, many of us are knee-deep in New Year's resolutions: lose weight, exercise more, or finally organize that cluttered garage (we see you!). But amidst the flurry of gym memberships and kale smoothies, there's one resolution that should be at the top of every CEO and HR leader's list: start recruiting ASAP.

What's the Hurry?

Sure, your HR team is great at what they do—but finding a high-level, strategic leader is a whole different ballgame. Spoiler alert: recruiters are pros at this game.

In the modern workplace, "loyalty" can sometimes feel like a slow slide into stagnation. Sure, tenured employees have valuable institutional knowledge, but are they keeping up with the fast-paced world of AI, remote work, and TikTok dance trends? (Okay, maybe not the last one, but you get the point.) At some stage, sticking with what you know can turn into sticking with what’s outdated.